Because of Novembe r's elections, retirements and one death, a
handful of new legislators got a head start on their partners in the
97th General Assembly.
State Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, took over for longtime state
Rep. Rich Myers after his death in December. Hammond had spent years
working with Myers, and she said that made the transition into the
General Assembly a little easier.
"The fact that I am familiar with our constituents and their
concerns and their needs will help me in being able to address what
legislation would be good for them and what legislation would not be
good for my district," Hammond said.
That includes the recently passed 67 percent income tax increase.
Hammond voted against the hike, as did all other Republicans.
The experience with the tax hike vote is one that fill-ins like
Hammond and new state Rep. Pam Roth, R-Morris, have in common. Roth
said the last week of the lame-duck session came with a steep
learning curve.
"I've only been doing this for about a week now," Morris said. "But
I'm really excited about the opportunities ahead of us."
Other new legislators who missed the lame-duck session are less
excited and more disheartened.
State Rep. Mike Unes, R-East Peoria, criticizes Democrats for what
he calls a move to avoid the results of the November election.
"I think it's unfortunate that the (tax) vote took place in the
lame-duck session in the way that it did. I think it's precisely
what the voters rejected in the November election," said Unes.
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State Rep. Jason Barickman, R-Champaign, said the tax increase vote
should stand as a reason why Republicans need to win more seats in
Springfield in two years.
"All of us should draw the conclusion that elections have
consequences," he said. "Look at this last election. There were some
arguing that we needed a tax increase and others, like myself, who
said we needed spending cuts. At the end … those who favored a tax
increase won. And we have a tax increase now."
Barickman replaces longtime Republican Shane Cultra, who moved to
the Illinois Senate. Cultra replaced Dan Rutherford, who left the
Senate for the Illinois treasurer's office.
All Illinois lawmakers, old and new, have off for the coming two
weeks. The General Assembly is due back in February to start work on
the next budget, due at the end of May.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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